Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether standing charges will remain on pre-payment meters.

Standing charges are a matter for energy suppliers. The standing charge reflects the ongoing costs that fall on a supplier to provide and maintain a live supply to a customer’s premises.

As announced in the Spring Budget 2023, the Government will remove the premium paid by households using prepayment meters by bringing their charges in line with comparable direct debit customers until the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) ends. This measure will eliminate the premium paid by households on prepayment meters, which is worth around £45 per year.